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A14 upgrade

The A14 upgrade project, which started in 2016, is set to finish by December 2020, and the change to motorway status doesn't mean it will take longer or be more expensive.

Mr Bray said Highways England had designed a road "that's capable of being a motorway" - so the difference will be in signage, variable speed limits and the ban on slow-moving traffic.

The project director added: "It means when the new road opens for traffic, local traffic will use the local roads, and lorries and long distance traffic will use the new motorway.

"That will mean there will be an all motorway link from London all the way to Peterborough. The new motorway will have blue signs, variable speed limits; as well as slow moving vehicles will be prohibited from using it."

(Image: Highways England)

The change would also involve a three-mile stretch of the A1 between Alconbury and Brampton becoming a motorway and being renamed the A14(M).

Benefits of having a motorway

Highways England said it wants to want to make the "A14 upgrade to be the safest and best road it can be. Road users will benefit from safer journeys and more reliable journey times as a result."

Valerie Amar-Matthews, a spokeswoman for Highways England added: "The safely is about putting the right vehicles on the right roads. There will be a motorway with the faster moving, long distance traffic and then next to it will be a road where the slower moving, local traffic can go."

The Bar Hill junction on the A14 in Cambridgeshire, July 2018. The abutments for the two new bridges can be seen just south of the existing bridge.

Mr Bray added that having both the A14 and A14(M) will improve the reliability of journeys, saying; "I live locally, and a new road will make a difference, a motorway will make an even bigger difference.

"The biggest thing a new motorway will do will be to improve journey reliability."

The road is also set to provide better connection to Peterborough and other large roads in the region.

Cambridgeshire county councillor Ian Bates said: “The A14 becoming a motorway will improve connectivity from the M11 to the A1 at Alconbury and will serve Peterborough. The upgrade of this road is vital to boost the local economy and create jobs.”

Highways England will now need to ask the Planning Inspectorate to consider the request, and the Secretary of State for Transport will make the final decision on whether the planned A14 upgrade will be given motorway status.

Time Line

Timeline for the A14 upgrade project

Autumn 2018

Completion of the detailed environmental and traffic assessments

Winter 2018/19

Highways England submits a Development Consent Order amendment to the Planning Inspectorate requesting to amend the road status for the section of the new A14 between Ellington and Girton, and of the A1 from Alconbury to Brampton, from A-road to motorway

The Planning Inspectorate examines Highways England’s submission and opens a 28-day consultation period

First half of 2019

Planning Inspectorate gives their recommendations to the Secretary of State for Transport after having reviewed Highways England’s submission

Second half of 2019

Secretary of State for Transport makes his decision regarding reclassification of the road

December 2020

The new A14 opens to traffic, with the section between Ellington and Girton becoming the A14(M) and the A1(M) extending down to Brampton from Alconbury.